Attahiru Jega

This research study reviews all dimensions of the recent agitations for political restructuring of Nigeria. A range of stakeholders from all the states in the federation were interviewed on a range of issues including the structure of the federation. Key findings from the study show that on the whole, respondents generally believe in a united Nigeria despite the challenges to Nigerian unity. Furthermore, while there is a clear preference for the retention of the current federal structure with states as federating units. The consensus is that some kind of re-structuring is necessary particularly through devolution of powers and allocation of more resources to the states to make for a more functional and effective federal system. The study therefore recommends, among others, greater autonomy for states and local governments in the forms of devolution/decentralization of power and resources using established principles of distribution of powers such as subsidiarity and proportionality.

Introduction In the Nigerian context, democracy is something much talked about — a set objective pursued with apparent vigour but not yet attained. For almost half a century, Nigerians have been searching for democracy through constitutional reforms and intricate political engineering and experimentation, spelt out in successive transition programmes. They have, however, been continuously disappointed. Many Third World countries in the 1990s, have been concerned with democratic consolidation,..

... workers want better pay and job security, employers want to cut costs and raise productivity; tenants want ... Scholars and Democratic Politics in Nigeria 173 ... They were often treated as organs of the civil service, expected to be taking directives and implementing circulars from the ...

The persistent, if not chronic crisis in the Nigerian education sector in general, and in the tertiary institutions in particular, has created the impression that unions are largely responsible for creating, rather than managing or regulating conflicts. Unions and their leaders are perceived as the incorrigible trouble makers, hell-bent on causing mischief and in giving perpetual headaches to the administrators of their respective institutions as well as the government, the funder of these institutions. This negative perception has been nurtured and sustained by the Nigerian State, especially under military rule, and then reinforced by intolerant and insecure administrators who see enmity and confrontation in any voice of dissent or critical appraisal. The most cogent and somewhat recent articulation of this perspective, for example, has been advanced by Mr. Ben Nwabueze, then Secretary for Education who, while addressing a gathering of Vice Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors of Nigeri...

... military personnel to be tried by the tribunal include Colonels Bello Fadile, Lawan Gwadabe, 0. Oloruntoba, Rowland Emokpae; Lieutenant-Colonels SE Oyewole, Happy Bulus, MA Igwe, RD Obiki, V. 0. Bamgbose, OE Nyong, CP Izuorgu; Ex-Major Akinloye Akinyemi; Captains ...

This research study reviews all dimensions of the recent agitations for political restructuring of Nigeria. A range of stakeholders from all the states in the federation were interviewed on a range of issues including the structure of the federation. Key findings from the study show that on the whole, respondents generally believe in a united Nigeria despite the challenges to Nigerian unity. Furthermore, while there is a clear preference for the retention of the current federal structure with states as federating units. The consensus is that some kind of restructuring is necessary particularly through devolution of powers and allocation of more resources to the states to make for a more functional and effective federal system. The study therefore recommends, among others, greater autonomy for states and local governments in the forms of devolution/decentralization of power and resources using established principles of distribution of powers such as subsidiarity and proportionality.